On Wednesday, Dianne Feinstein, who is set to turn 90 next month, came back to the senate while using a wheelchair. The Democrat senator had been away for three months due to shingles.
“Even though I’ve made significant progress and was able to return to Washington, I’m still experiencing some side effects from the shingles virus. My doctors have advised me to work a lighter schedule as I return to the Senate. I’m hopeful those issues will subside as I continue to recover,” Feinstein stated.
Senator Schumer accompanied Feinstein as she made her way. Feinstein’s office explained that she is currently dealing with challenges related to her vision and balance.
It's official: @SenFeinstein is back on Capitol Hill. Here is the moment she voted on the Senate floor. She was escorted in by @SenSchumer
— Liz Kreutz (@ABCLiz) May 10, 2023
Feinstein's office says she is experiencing vision/balance impairments & at times will need to use a wheelchair to travel around the Capitol pic.twitter.com/Tf0KaTZThN
After an absence of almost three months due to health concerns, Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, participated in her first two votes on the Senate floor on Wednesday afternoon. Upon arriving at Capitol Hill, she was aided into a wheelchair and warmly welcomed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York.
Feinstein informed reporters that she is in considerably improved health, but she chose not to address inquiries regarding her decision to return or respond to calls for her resignation from critics. These two votes marked Feinstein’s first participation since February 16. Earlier on Wednesday, before her arrival, she missed two votes, bringing the total number of floor votes she missed during her shingles recovery to 91, as per NBC News’ count. In a statement released in the afternoon, Feinstein stated that she is back in Washington but will be following a reduced workload as she resumes her responsibilities.
